Mechanism for holding or transferring articles



F. M. F'URBER, MECHANISM FOR HOLDING 0R TRANSFERRING ARTICLES.APPLICATION FILED NOV- 21, 1919- RENEWED APR. 20,1922.

1,438,482. rimmed Dec. 12,1922,

H. a m reiterated Ber. 121, i944 FREDERICK Iv'I. FUBEEE, 03: REVERE,

earner creme.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE Iv'EAGHINERY CORPORATION, GEPATTERSON, NEYV JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IMECEANISIM FOR HOLDING OR TRANSFEBEING- ARTICLES.

Application filed November 21, 1919, Serial No. 339,615.

To aZZ w 710m it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. Foiusnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county ofSuffolk and State of lviassachusetts, have invented certain Improvementsin Mechanism for Holding or transferring Articles, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like reference Cl'1i1dCtQ1S on the drawings indicatingparts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a mechanism or apparatus for holding ortrans'jc ring articles which in the illustrated embodiment isparticularly designed for use in the manufacture ol shoes for picking uppieces of material one at a time and transferring them to a desiredlocation. However, it will be obvious that the invention is capable ofwide application.

The primary object of the inventionis to produce a novel mechanism ofthe character above indicated which will be simple, eliicient andreliable in construction and in operation.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises in oneaspect the combination of a support, a member movable therein andconstructed and arranged to engage an article for example a sole or apart ofa shoe bottom, and another member constructed and arranged to bebrought into operative engagement with said article by relative movementof the support and said first inember. Furthermore, the inventioncomprises cer'ain other combinations and arrangements of parts, as wellvarious details of.

construction, which will be set forth in the following description of apreferred embodiment thereof and willthcu be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 shows in side elevationan article holding or transferringmechanism embody ing the invention, the mechanism being shown in aposition in which one of its three article engaging members has beenbrought into operative engagement with the forepart ot' a shoe bottom;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation partly in section showing the lowerportion of the same mechanism after all three of such Renewed April 20,1922. Serial No. 555,695.

members have been brought into final operative engagement with thearticle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan along the line .lllflll, Fig. 2, the outlineof the sole portion of the shoe bottom being shown in. broken lines; andI Fig. l is a sectional detail along the line IV IV, Fig. 1. I

The mechanism herein shown by way of illustration as embodying theinvention has been particularly designed for use as a unit in anautomatic, machine which applicant has invented for making shoe bottomssuch as are disclosed in his application for U. S. Patent Ser. No.203,802, filed November 4, 1917, the particular mechanism herein shownbeing employed to remove molded shoe bottom foreparts, each consistingof a sole and certain other parts secured thereto from the carriers ofsuch a machine by which they are assembled and delivering them into abox or holder, all as fully disclosed in still another application Ser.No. 477,709, filed by the present applicant June 15, 1921. l-lowever,the mechanism shown here'in may also be employed as a tool supported inand operated by the hand and, therefore, the means for supporting andoperating the mechanism forms no part of the present invention and willnot be described herein. Moreover, obviously the mechanism shown may beused for handling articles and blanks of numerous other kinds than thatabovementioned.

. As illustrated in the drawings, the article to be transferred is ashoe bottom forepart comprising a short sole 2 and a sheet filler 4secured thereto. Preferably a steel shank piece (not shown) will liebetween these parts 2 and 4. As shown in Figl, the article lies upon asupport or mold 6, the upper surface of which is recessed at 8 to permitthe lips of the arms hereinafter described to swingbeneath thelower faceof the article. The holding or transferring mechanism itself, which mayconveniently be referred to as a picker, includes a support 10 which maybe sustained and moved by any suitable mechanical means, such as twoarms one of which is indicated at 12', or the upper end of thesupportmay be formed as a handle ii": the device is to be used'as a handtool. A vertical sleeve 14: is mounted to slide in the lower end of thesupport and has at its lower end a fixed cross bar 16 while at its upperend is clamped a block 18. A spring 20 interposed between the lower endof the support 10 and the upper face of cross bar 16 tends to hold theblock 18 against the support 10 with a considerable degree of pressurebut allows the sleeve and its connected parts to yield upward withrelation to the support. I

A rod 24: is mounted to slide in the sleeve 14 and has secured at itslower end a cross bar 26 from which projects downward a boss 28 havingin its lower face a stab point 30. A spring 32 substantially lighterthan the spring 20 is interposed between the cross bar 26 and the endwall of a socket 34; in the cross bar 16. A sleeve 36 having a taperingupper face 37 and a shoulder 38 is se cured to the upper end of rod 24.

A pair of arms 4L0 bifurcated at their inner ends carry fingers 42 attheir outer ends, each having an inturned lip it at its lower end andbeing adjust-ably secured by a set screw 46 in the outer end of its arm40. Each arm 40 is clamped to a pivot pin 48 journaled in the cross bar26, the upper end of each pin being formed with a relatively steep screw50 threaded into the cross bar 16. Pivoted upon a bracket 5a extendingupward from the lower part ofsupport 10 is a bell crank lever 56 havingupon one of its arms a hook or latch 58 adapted to slide over thetapered surface 37 and-engagethe shoulder 38 of sleeve 36 when thelatter rises. A link 60 connects the lever 56 with another lever 62pivoted upon the support 10 while the opposite end of lever 62 isprovided with an adjustable stop 64. A sprin 66 tends constantly toswing the hook 58 inward into position for latching under the shoulder38.

The sleeve 14 with the parts carried thereby may be locked in one of aplurality of angular positions, particularly to accommodate right andleft shoe bottom foreparts,

by means of a pin 68 projecting downward from block 18 and constructedand arranged to engage either'of' two holes 70 (see Figs. 1 and 4-) inthe support.

The manner in which the mechanism described may be used for picking upand transferring articles will be readily understood. For example themechanism maybe used to pickup shoe bottom foreparts 2, l from the mold6 and to transfer them to a position over abox into which they ma-ylieallowed to drop. Theaction of sprmg;

tends to maintain the fingers; relatively far apartthat is, open'withthe block 18 resting against support IOanCl sleeve 36'" resting againstthe block. This open position of themechanism is illustrated in l where,however, the mechanism is shown as having been brought downward so thatthe boss 28 is firmly in contact with the upper face of the shoe bottomwith the stab point SOpenetrating the same, sleeve 14: and rod 24c beingpreferably substantially in vertical position. Thereupon downwardpressure exerted upon the support 10, compresses spring 32 and moves thecross bar 26 with its connected parts, including screws 50. upward withrelation to the cross bar 16. Through the co-action of the screws withthe threaded portions of the bar, the arms 40 are swung inward and thelips 44 enter the recess 8' in the mold and engage the lower face of thesole adjacent its opposite edges, and in the region of its ball line butsomewhat to the rear, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The inward movement ofthe arms is limited by the engagement of the upper face of the bar 26with the lower face of the bar16 and the lips 44 are of such length thatthey can be used, without substitution of different fingers, as, forsoles of different widths. Should the downward movement of support 10continue. it will be taken up by the yielding of spring 20. As the arms40 reach their inmost or closed position shown. in Fig. 2, the latch 58snaps beneath the shoulder 38 and maintains the lips 44c beneath thesole so that upon the upward movement of the support 10 and the otherparts of the picker the article will. be carried therewith since thearticle is engaged relatively near its rear end, leaving the greaterpart of its weight forward of the lips 44. /Vhen the article has beenmoved to the desired point, it may bereleased quickly by the engagementof stop 64 with any suitable abutment, or the lever 62 may be moved byhand to secure the same result, so that the arms are swung to open.position through the expansion of spring 32.

It will be noted that a characteristic feature of the mechanismdescribed is that, after the article engaging member 28' comes intocontact with one face of the article, the

further movement of the support 10 rela-.

of the sleeve 14 because of the different shapes ofv right and leftsoles or. shoe bottoms.

Having thus indicated the nature and lessees s'Ope of the inve on andhaving described in detail a mechanism in which it be embodied, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a member movable therein'and constructed andarranged to engage an article, and another member constructed andarranged to be brought into operative engagement with the article byrelative movement of saidsupport and said first member. 7 v

2. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a member movable therein and constructed andarranged to engage one face of an article, and another memberconstructed and arranged to bebrought into operative engagement with theopposite face of the article by relative movement of said support andsaid first member.

, of the support'toward first member rests against 3. Mechanism forholding or transferring articles having, in combination, a support, amember movable therein and constructed and arranged-to engage one faceof an ar- .ticle and anothermember constructed and arranged to bebrought into operative en gagement with the oppositeface of the article,at a substantial distance longitudinally from said first member, bymovement the article while said one face of the article.

l. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a member movable therein and constructed andarranged to engage anarticle and a pair of laterally movable membersconstructed and arranged to be brought into operative engagement witharticle, adjacent opposite'edges thereof, by relative movement of saidsupport and said first member.

5. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a member longitudinally movable relative to saidsupport and constructed and arranged to engage an article, a pair ofmembers pivotally connected to said first member and operativeconnections between said support and said pair of members for causingthem to be moved into and out of operative engagement with the articleby relative movement of said support and said first member.

6. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a. member longitudinally movable relative tosaid support and constructed and arranged to engage the top face of anarticle, a pair of members pivotally connected to said first member andmovable laterally in opposite directions into and out of engagement withthe opposite face of the ring articles having,

opposite edges and operative connections, ineluding steeply threadedscrews, for causing said pair of members to be moved into en gagementwith the article after the said first member comes into engagement withthe top face of the article.

7. Mechanism for holding or transferring articles having, incombination, a support, a member movable longitudinally to limitedextent relative'to said support and constructed and arranged'to engagean article, a pair of members plvotally connected to said first memberand movable laterally in opposite directions into and out of engagementwith, the bottom face of the article'- from oppositesides beneatharticles of dif ferent widthsinto en a ement therewith p; w 7 ad acentto their opposne edges.

f k engaging members mov- 9. 'Mechanism for holding or transferringarticles having, in combination, a member movable therein in a directionapprommately at right angles to the face of a sole, a pair of pivotedarms, a finger secured in each arm with provision for. ad-,

justment therein in substantially the said direction, said fingers beingmovable laterally toward and from opposite edges of the sole andintoengagement with the sole adja cent to its opposite edges. p

10. Mechanism for holding or transfer ring articleshavin in combination,a' support, three workengaging members movably mounted in the supportand constructed and arranged to be brought, by movement of said supportwith relation to an article, into operative engagement with the articleat three separated points, two of the members being located to en, onethe opposite face. 11. 'Mechanism for holding or transferring articleshaving, in combination, a support, amember movable therein andconstructed and, arranged to engage an article, another memberconstructed and arranged to be brought into operative engagement withthe article by relative movement of said support and said. first memberand means for locking said partsin such operative relation.

12. Mechanism for holding or transferin combination, a sup port, amember movable therein and constructed and arranged to engage oneface ofan article and another member constructed and arranged to bebrought,against the resistance of a spring, into operative engagea support,

gage one face of the article and izo s so.

with the articleby relative movement of aid support and said firstmember and a latch movable into operative and into inoperative saidsecon a member.

13. Mechanism for holding or transferring shoe bottom parts having, incombina tion, a support, a member movable therein and a portion of whichis constructed and arranged to engage one face of such a part, a pair ofmembers sustained by said member and constructed and arranged to engagethe part at opposite sides in the region of its ball line and means forsecuring said first member in either of two predetermined angularpositions with relation to said support in order to .accommoda-te rightand left parts.

l4. Mechanism for holding or transferring shoe bottom parts having, incombination, a support, a pair of pivoted members movable laterally inopposite directions into and outvof operative engagement With theexterior surface only of su'cha part, and an actuating member movablelongitudinally relative to said support and to said members constructedand arranged to bring the latter into such operative engagement Withsaid surface.

15. Mechanism for holding or transferring shoe bottom parts having, incombination, a support, a pair of membersmovable laterally into and outof exterior engagement only With one face of such a part, an actuatingmember movable longitudinally relative to said support and to saidmembers constructed and arranged to bring the latter into operativeengagement with said part, and a movable latch for; locking said membersin such operative relation.

16. Mechanism for holding or transferring. articles having, incombination, a supposition for locking and releasing port, a membermovable therein, and a pair of members movable laterally inapproximately a horizontal plane and constructed and arranged to bebrought into operative engagement with the article by relative movementof said support and saidfirst mentioned member.

17. Mechanism for holding or transfer ring articles having, incombination, a support, Work engaging members movably mountedin thesupport and constructed and arranged to'be brought bymovement of saidrections into and out of operative engage ment With the opposite face ofthe article, an actuating member movable longitudinally relative tosai-d'support and'to saldmembers constructedand arranged to bring thelatter' into operative relation with said article'and a. movable latchfor locking the sa1dme'mhere in such operative relation.

19. Mechanism for holding or transferring-shoe bottom parts having, incombination, a support, Work engaging members constructedv and arrangedfor movement laterally on the support in a plane approximately parallelto one face of such a part and into operative engagement With said face,and cooperating means through Which such movement. may be effected. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK FURBER;

